Nurture and Thrive
As a small school, we pride ourselves in having a family feel to the school, where all staff will know your child by name. Our approach is bespoke and this is possible due our small numbers. We give what we need to each child at the right stage in order to support them socially and emotionally, which in term will help them academically. All of our staff are trained in restorative approaches to behaviour and we firmly believe that all behaviours are a message.
Our school has a sensory room with specialist lighting, plus a range of tools such as spinning chairs, sensory tents, trampolines and other resources to support children.
We also have a nurture classroom where interventions and Thrive is held. This is a welcoming space which is 'home from home', with sofas, a kitchen space, specialist books and other resources to calm children and provide a therapeutic space.
We have nurture support in the school and offer Thrive interventions for children who need additional support. We use a Thrive tool to assess areas of need and plan interventions to support their needs. Thrive is delivered by Mrs Cleveland in school. Please come and speak to your child's class teacher if you would like any further information or you feel your child would benefit from additional support.
Supporting Wellbeing, Inclusion and Family Support
Elveden Schools Trust & Hopton C of E Primary Academy
Developing a Nurture Space and Wraparound Care Provision
Elveden Schools Trust is proud to have supported Hopton Church of England Primary Academy in the development of a dedicated nurture space and expanded wraparound care provision to support children and families across the school community.
Created through a shared commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and early intervention, the provision has strengthened the school’s ability to support children’s social, emotional and mental health needs while ensuring pupils are able to access mainstream education successfully.
Meeting a Growing Need
Recognising the increasing need for emotional wellbeing support and accessible childcare provision for families, Hopton C of E Primary Academy worked closely with Elveden Schools Trust to develop provision that would:
- Support children’s social, emotional and mental health needs
- Provide a safe and nurturing environment for intervention and regulation
- Improve access to early help and pastoral support
- Support working families through high-quality wraparound care
- Enable children to engage positively in mainstream education and school life
The result was the creation of a dedicated nurture space alongside strengthened wraparound care provision designed to meet the needs of both pupils and families.
How Elveden Schools Trust Supported the Project
Project Management and Strategic Leadership
Elveden Schools Trust played a central role in supporting the development of the provision through:
- Supporting funding and resource allocation
- Working collaboratively with school leaders to develop the nurture offer
- Supporting operational planning and sustainability
- Strengthening inclusive practice across the school
- Ensuring the provision aligned with the Trust’s vision for wellbeing, inclusion and family support
The Trust worked closely alongside the Senior Leadership Team throughout the project to ensure the provision would have long-term impact for children and families.
Creating a Nurturing and Inclusive Environment
The school supported the development of a dedicated nurture space designed to provide children with a calm, safe and supportive environment where they can access targeted intervention and emotional support.
The provision includes:
- A dedicated sensory room
- A nurture and wellbeing space
- Calm and supportive learning environments
- Areas for ELSA and small group intervention work
- Resources to support emotional regulation and wellbeing
- Opportunities for children to reintegrate successfully into classroom learning
Every aspect of the environment has been developed to help children feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
Strengthening Wraparound Care Provision
Funding also supported the expansion of wraparound care provision, providing greater support for families before and after the school day.
Children benefit from:
- A safe and structured childcare environment
- Opportunities for social interaction and enrichment activities such as cooking, science club and sports
- Consistent routines that support wellbeing and attendance
- Positive relationships with trusted adults and peers
The provision has also supported working families by improving access to reliable childcare within the school community.
The Impact
Improved Emotional Wellbeing and Behaviour
Children accessing the nurture provision have demonstrated:
- Improved emotional regulation
- Increased confidence and resilience
- Greater engagement in learning
- Improved behaviour and relationships with peers
Increased Inclusion and Access to Learning
The provision has enabled pupils to:
- Access support at an earlier stage
- Return to learning more successfully following intervention
- Build positive relationships with trusted adults
- Participate more fully in mainstream school life
Supporting Families and the Wider School Community
The wraparound care provision has strengthened support for families by providing consistent childcare and a nurturing environment outside of the school day. Families report improved routines, reduced pressure around childcare and greater confidence in the support available to their children.
A Model of Inclusive Practice
The success of the project reflects Elveden Schools Trust’s ongoing commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and collaborative working to meet the needs of children and families across the region.
School leaders highlighted the importance of creating a provision that places nurture, emotional wellbeing and family support at the centre of school life, ensuring that all children are able to thrive both academically and personally.
Looking Ahead
Elveden Schools Trust and Hopton C of E Primary Academy remain committed to continuing the development of both the nurture and wraparound care provision to ensure even more children and families in the community can benefit from high-quality pastoral and wellbeing support.
Through nurturing relationships, inclusive practice and early intervention, the provision is helping children feel safe, supported and ready to succeed.
